Gold Coast Titans recruit Bryce Cartwright has used a baffling reason for leaving the Penrith Panthers saying he didn’t want to play five-eigth.

That’s despite the Panthers signing Australian representative five-eigth James Maloney for the 2018 season.

Cartwright shocked the rugby league world last week when he was released by his junior club to join the Titans in Queensland.

“There’s a lot of competition for back-row spots in (the Panthers) squad,” Cartwright said.

“I was playing in the halves. It’s not somewhere I wanted to play. I think I’m better suited to the back row.

“I thought if I stay here I’m not going to get as much time on the field. If I’m going to improve as a player (the Gold Coast) is the place I need to be.”